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[Damn-Danny]

I'm looking for best option on 12ax7 high  gain tubes for my 3tm mp-1.
No JJ's cause  I hate them sound much too harsh and lower gain .
At the moment I got in v1 a TAD RT001, V2 RT001 and in V3 a TAD7025 WA High Grade.
Must all 3 tubes be the same kind, must they be balanced?
Wanna get to bay area kind of gain, Exodus, Heathen, Dark Angel, Defiance , Vio-Lence.
No JJ's

 

[rnolan]

Hey Danny, no they don't have to be the same or matched etc as they are providing progressive gain stages.  IIRC MJMP said the V3 tube uses one of its 2 triodes as a cathode follower thus you get 5 gain stages across the 3 tubes (each tube has 2 triodes).  Personally I'm a fan of the new sensor Mullard long plate re-issues, nice 3D tubes, plenty of very smooth gain, nice low end (though I don't have a 3TM, they are great in my MP2s).  There's also a short plate Mullard re-issue, MikeB used a short plate in V1 of his MP1, worked well for him.  So you can mix and match, typically you'd go for the long plate after a short plate if you are mixing them up.  Boogie SPAX7s are also good tubes (they are re-badged as there are only 3 or 4 tube manufactures and they are often JJs (which you don't like) but not always).  The Mullards are Russian tubes (Reflector factory).  They also make a bunch of other re-issues like Tung-sol and Sovtek.  Svetlana are also well regarded Russian tubes.  I posted some comparison pages in previous posts (ages ago) in this topic.

[Damn-Danny]

Thnx Nolan,

I ordered 3 Shuguang 12 ax 7 B 's.
Now it's howls and squeels like i wanted it it.

[rnolan]

  Cool, they look like nice Chinese bottles.... It's good they worked out well for you, and thanks for posting, gives other 3TM uses options to consider 

[rnolan]

Just read a few reviews of the Shuguang 12ax7 B's, seems they don't last as long as some other tubes (~3 years) and are a bit noisy.  The noise shouldn't worry you with 3TM at high gain (i.e. you won't hear it) but you may be up for a new set sooner rather than later.  Let us know how they settle in over time.

[Damn-Danny]

Used first older 12ax7b's who i had in my Bugera 333XL inf.  tried TAD RT001 2x + a RT60.Tried those JJ's ECC83 (much lower gain and too harsh) bought 3 new 12axb's now it sounds what i had in mind. low noise is nice but at high always hiss etc. mayby the too digital sounding profilers have no hiss at high gain levels. 5 years still sounding good shuguang  12ax7B's  still better than very overrated shit JJ's

[Damn-Danny]

Nice to read opinion, but As I always reply let your ears decide not others opinion, some demands your ears hear not other ones ears!!!!!
and  reviews are so personal!!

[rnolan]

Absolutely, tubes are very subjective.  Other opinions are useful and may help decide a direction. but you have to hear it and decide yourself.  Also various tubes sound very different in different circuits.  It's great the Shuguangs are working well for you and it's another interesting option for 3TM users 

[Damn-Danny]

did back the tube that were placed after modding, the JJ ecc83s.
After turing Od1 opt slightly down on board, turn od 2 little bit up, low to mid up and low/high to mid down it's total beast.
now it's guitar into VoodooLab GCX to Pro Tone Gary holt signature boost to Boss OD (replaced the Jeff Loomis OD by Pro Tone) to Sentry noisegate to ada 3tm mp1 to TC Electronic Gmajor 2 to Mooer Radar (IR loader) return loop Bugera 333 xl i to Laney 2x12 it's crushing tone.

[rnolan]

 

[Damn-Danny]

By adding lots of low to mid with trimpot you get sound going to a Marshall Jubilee kinda sound.
decreased the OD1 trim a bit and add bit on OD 2.
No i got some low end what I was lacking in sound.
After my rack put the Mooer Radar, than in to return of my Bugera with 2 instead of 4 Shuguang 6L6 powertubes.
Brutal sound
 

[rnolan]

Excellent, great to hear you're getting what works for you